Durango, Colorado

Tours

Explore the majestic La Plata Mountains and Canyon near Durango, CO at some of the canyon’s most scenic and beautiful waterfalls. This is a mild scenic tour fun for the entire family who does not want to do the full four hour tour. Stop at 3 unique waterfalls for plenty of photo opportunities, as we climb higher into the canyon. The last waterfall stop is on private property accessible only to your tour operator. This stop gets you up close to a stunning 25-30ft waterfall with some old mining structures scattered around the base. The tour will reach around 10,000 feet above sea level and stop to take in the views. This is a great adventure for the entire family. All ages are welcome on this trip however car seats are not provided. NOTE: This tour does not go up to the top of Kennebec Pass and is a mild tour. You will board into an “Open-Air” vehicle (however we reserve the right to take a Jeep Wrangler if needed due to circumstances beyond our control). We will drive on the highway for approximately 20-25 minutes to the mouth of the canyon and from there we will start our tour into the canyon. It can get windy so if you get cold easily please bring a jacket or ask for one, we carry extra jackets and blankets but you may need to ask.

Skip the hassle and enjoy a seamless journey through one of Colorado’s most iconic landmarks. Embark on an unforgettable 5-hour adventure through the rich history and stunning landscapes of Mesa Verde National Park with our Mesa Verde Express Tour. Your excursion includes a rare opportunity to explore the famous Cliff Palace, led by a National Park Service Ranger. Relish a 45-minute guided experience while you explore the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Gain a unique glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who built and inhabited these incredible structures over 700 years ago. Round-trip transportation and Cliff Palace tour tickets are included in this quick yet immersive adventure Join us for a scenic, educational, and time-efficient experience that’s perfect for those looking to maximize their vacation journey.

No trip to Southwest Colorado is complete without a rafting trip on the famous Animas River. Get wet and wild on this fun adventure perfect for adults and children alike. Hit the water with professionally trained and experienced guides, allowing you to safely enjoy your trip even if you have no previous rafting experience. Meet at the arrival point where you will be given all the necessary equipment and an in-depth briefing on rafting procedures and safety precautions. Then get transported down to the river and hop onto a raft and set off down Animas River, which is known for its whitewater sports and is not to be missed. You'll have a chance to explore the river, searching for wildlife, swimming and admiring the views of Downtown Durango and the natural beauty of Southwest Colorado from the river. See historical Old West landmarks and hear stories about the early days of Durango. All Durango rafting tours include mild class I, II rapids as well as exciting class III rapids at Durango’s famous Santa Rita Whitewater Park.

Meet at our Durango Office, or the Mancos Chamber of Commerce, to shuttle over to Mesa Verde with your guide! The drive from Durango is incredibly scenic and takes about 45 minutes while driving past the La Plata Mountains. Once there, you'll visit the top sites along the mesa before your expedition into Cliff Palace. This portion of the tour lasts about 45 minutes, and includes climbing a narrow staircase and series of ladders to reach the dwellings. The rangers will provide some interpretation, while giving you time to wander beneath the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Afterwards we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the sites or overlooks, before continuing to more ancient villages and sacred kivas to explore. Expect a lot of information along the way! Our guides offer far more insight and knowledge about the sites than visitors going on their own, as posted information and placards are limited throughout the Park. After a stop at a spectacular lookout of the Four Corners Region, we'll shuttle back to Durango, or Mancos where we started.

Come and experience the La Plata Canyon tour also known as “Kennebec Pass”. This tour will take you up to 12,000 feet at or near the tree line. You'll get to see the amazing geology of how this canyon was carved out by ancient glaciers leaving the beautiful canyon along the way. You'll also have a chance to see wildlife such as deer, bears, marmots, birds, elk, and maybe even the elusive mountain lion. All of which have been spotted on our tours. La Plata Canyon is 20 minutes west of Durango, Colorado, and has a history of old Ghost Towns and plenty of old mines to chat about along the way. An absolute bucket list item! When you book this trip you get access to private areas no other company can access. We can take you to our private 25-foot waterfall that sits on an old mining claim from the early 1900s. Our Jeep trail tours are the best in the area! On our Jeep Tours, you will board our “open-air” vehicle (however, we reserve the right to take a Jeep Wrangler if needed) and head into the “crown jewel” of the San Juan Mountains. Our tours are the perfect way to make the most out of your day with our half-day adventure, leaving the other half of the day for one of our many other adventures like rafting down the mighty Animas River.

Enjoy a heart-pumping adventure in Durango on a guided whitewater rafting tour. Take on fun rapids of the Lower Animas River like Smelter, Sawmill, and Santa Rita which are perfect for families and first-time rafters. Get a snack and a drink with the longer rafting option. Start the adventure with a safety briefing and get paddling instructions from your certified guide. Then, it's time to hit the rapids. Ride with a group in a raft or float solo in an inflatable kayak. While maneuvering your raft down the Animas River, listen to the historical tales of the Wild West from your guide and learn about the area’s natural resources. When you get to the white water, splash your way through Smelter, Sawmill, Santa Rita, and Ponderosa Rapids. Choose from different tour lengths depending on the amount of time you want to spend on the water. If your schedule is limited, choose the 2.5-hour tour. If you have more time and want to go farther down the river, pick the 4.5-hour tour, which includes a stop for a drink and a snack.

Half Day Trips give you around 2 hours on the water, taking you through the heart of Durango where the funnest rapids ripple! Meet us at our Durango Office and suit up for the river! You'll meet your guides and get fitted for a life jacket, helmet, and other river getup if needed (wetsuits or splash jackets when the weather/water is chilly). Then we'll shuttle over to the river! Your guides will provide a quick safety orientation before heading out on the beautiful Lower Animas River. You'll bound through plenty of Class II and one Class III rapid throughout the trip. Class II rapids are "fun and friendly," rolling over the bow and dousing those at the front of the boat. Class III rapids are "wet and wild," usually soaking everyone in the raft head to toe. Keep in mind the size of rapids will vary throughout the season with water levels, with spring typically having higher flows and summer lower flows. Our experienced and entertaining river guides will get you downstream, and you're welcome to paddle with them or just sit back and relax. They'll share fun stories and the history of the area, adding fascinating insights to Durango wild days of yore. After a couple of hours chortling it up on the river, we'll take out, load up the boats, and shuttle you back to our Durango Office.

Discover a remote location in San Juan National Forest for a ziplining adventure from Durango or Rockwood. Travel on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the first-class car and zipline through the trees before having lunch suspended over the Animas River. Start your day with an unforgettable journey on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and ride in the first-class car through breathtaking mountainous scenery. Traverse the canyon and admire the Animas River roaring below you, famous for featuring in numerous films. Arrive at the remote location in the heart of the forest and be welcomed by the sky rangers who'll guide you through the basics of ziplining on a brief safety introduction. Learn about sustainability and preservation of this ponderosa pine forest and fly through the trees on 27 ziplines. After ziplining look forward to a delicious, four-course gourmet lunch served on a supended platform overlooking the Animas River. There are several dining options to choose from, all cooked by skilled chefs, including a vegetarian and children's menu. It is also possible to join this activity with your family without taking part in the ziplining adventure by choosing the option without ziplining at checkout. Take photos of your friends or loved ones as they go through the course and admire the picturesque scenery all around you. There are multiple options to choose from at checkout as you can choose your departure location and choose to include ziplining or not.

Feel the thrill of off-road driving as you discover the scenic Colorado outback on an adventure by Jeep. Encounter a landscape of forgotten ghost towns, gold mines, waterfalls, and spectacular scenery on the area’s trails. Head to the meeting point to pick up your jeep and meet your trip consultant. Pick up your map of the local trails and make the most of out of your rental with personalized recommendations. Cruise the rugged terrain of La Plata Canyon or explore the surrounding mountain passes. Hit off-road trails Animas Forks, Imogene Pass, Ophir Pass, or the Alpine Loop. Discover the area's unique landscape at your own pace. Benefit from rending the newest Jeeps in town, all equipped with automatic transmission and air conditioning. Choose from either a modified 4-door Jeep, or a Jeep Wrangler Willy's, which combines heavy-duty Trail Rated® component upgrades with classic Jeep Brand styling. While a modified Jeep allows for off-road terrain, the Willy's Edition is specially built for adventurous off-road adventures, with shock absorbers that work to increase control over rough terrains.

Meet us at our Durango Office and suit up for the river! You'll meet your guides and get fitted for a life jacket, helmet, and other river getup if needed (wetsuits or splash jackets when the weather/water is chilly). Then we'll shuttle over to the river! Your guides will provide a quick safety orientation before heading out on the beautiful Lower Animas River for an hour. In between the calm sections and time to chat with your guide, we'll splash through plenty of Class II and one Class III rapid as we paddle downstream. Class II rapids are "fun and friendly" rolling over the front of the bow and splashing those at the front of the boat. Class III rapids are "wet and fun" soaking everyone head to toe. Spring trips usually have higher flows with bigger splashes, while summer tends to have lower flows with more mild splashes. After an hour of fun, we'll take out, load up the boats and shuttle you back to our Durango Office.